Return to Moab (and the west) - itinerary suggestions?

[Sweetums]

I'm familiar with Gaia and OnX and have both - but to that point I have noticed some of the trails I have selected will definitely require mindful navigation.

Yea, I saw a video from Onion Creek a year or two back. I think it was Ozark Overland. They did the Onion Creek portion no problem but heading up into the mountain quickly became impassable and they had to double back. Rain and some recent snow had made a mess of it.

That's my plan for Shafer. Enjoy the road and switchbacks, sight see Island in the Sky, and if time allows throw in a trail after lunch somewhere between there and going back to Moab.

At the end of the day, I'm keeping a secondary list of trails so if weather or other circumstance calls for it, I have some packaged back-up plans.

That road up to Polar Mesa is maintained, unless they took a wrong turn and ended up on Rose Garden Hill. The road should be in decent shape unless it was recently washed out or you are there in the spring before the grader can get to it.

If you are interested in camping at all, I always recommend spending a night or two out on the White Rim Trail. It's a great trail with fantastic views and some pretty epic campsites that overlook canyons/rivers. We had a blast on it and would love to go back.

This is a great plan, but camping on White Rim requires a permit and they are all gone within hours of being released.

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[ChrisNLA]

That road up to Polar Mesa is maintained, unless they took a wrong turn and ended up on Rose Garden Hill. The road should be in decent shape unless it was recently washed out or you are there in the spring before the grader can get to it.

Could be. Definitely going to examine it further. Harder part will be deciding how many more mods I want on the truck before I go

 

[ChrisNLA]

I checked badge trails in the area, and there are two new ones that I do not have. I already have Poison Spider, Metal Masher, Steel Bender, FnT, Hells Revenge, Top of the World, Elephant Hill.

Wipe Out Hill, and D2700 Lost world are the new ones. Wipe Out Hill is just off of Seven Mile so I can lump those two together. I need to look at Lost World and see if I can squeeze it in somewhere, or see if its worth trading something out on my list.

Day 3 is up for debate.
Day 4 is pretty solid. Maybe I take out Hells Revenge, but only if I can lump something else in that day.
Day 5 is slightly more firm, but it's not a must have yet.
Day 6 is firm. I want to do the full route all the way around to Moab.
Day 7 is pretty firm - well at least up to Canyon Lands. I am not sure about after that. Open for debate after arriving in Island in the Sky.
Day 8 is probably getting heavy. I will need to look at this further.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Updated the original post, but does anyone have an opinion on going in the fall vs the spring? We always went out west in the spring due to school schedules for my friends, but I am not locked into April this time. It may also work out better financially as we are trying to cross a few other important things off in the first half of the year.

What is the best time to go in the fall? Any other thoughts on the matter?

 

[JTdiRtyD]

We have always went mid October. Temps are perfect IMO, we never found it overly busy but we do tend to stay clear the popular spots. We usually find ourselves dodging rain storms though.

EDIT: The immediate Moab area does get pretty busy now that I think about it. Cooler temps draw folks in.

Be aware that if you plan to dispersed camp on the way out there, it's hunting season so camp areas and National Forests might be full of hunting parties. Some areas elk hunting starts in Sept and runs through November IIRC.

 

[ChrisNLA]

We have always went mid October. Temps are perfect IMO, we never found it overly busy but we do tend to stay clear the popular spots. We usually find ourselves dodging rain storms though.

EDIT: The immediate Moab area does get pretty busy now that I think about it. Cooler temps draw folks in.

Be aware that if you plan to dispersed camp on the way out there, it's hunting season so camp areas and National Forests might be full of hunting parties. Some areas elk hunting starts in Sept and runs through November IIRC.

We have been to Moab twice the week after EJS, so we're no stranger to busy. Both times we stayed at at hotel next to the Moab Brewery.

Won't be camping on this trip, but good to know for another time. This trip is just to bring my retirement age mother out to see some western scenery in an area that I am already familiar with.

 

[ALT2870]

If you can hold off long enough starting the last weekend of October is when it gets quiet going into November. Snow is highly unlikely though if you are coming from the east through Colorado all bets are off there. We've done it the past two years now and it's been perfect weather and tourist wise.

Hell's Revenge and Fins will be where most the action is at with crowds.

 

[ChrisNLA]

If you can hold off long enough starting the last weekend of October is when it gets quiet going into November. Snow is highly unlikely though if you are coming from the east through Colorado all bets are off there. We've done it the past two years now and it's been perfect weather and tourist wise.

Hell's Revenge and Fins will be where most the action is at with crowds.

Not too worried about crowds. Both times I went was in April after EJS. Just looking for suitable weather.

 

[ALT2870]

Late October and early November are fantastic weather on average if that's the case.

 

[BunkieJeeper75]

If you are interested in camping at all, I always recommend spending a night or two out on the White Rim Trail. It's a great trail with fantastic views and some pretty epic campsites that overlook canyons/rivers. We had a blast on it and would love to go back.

White Rim Trail …
1) Is a permit needed?
2) Is dispersed camping allowed or is camping only at designated camp site where permits/reservation are required?

 

[Sweetums]

White Rim Trail …
1) Is a permit needed?
2) Is dispersed camping allowed or is camping only at designated camp site where permits/reservation are required?

White Rim trail requires a permit and you better be online and ready to go the moment they become available because they disappear in minutes.
Dispersed camping is NOT allowed in Canyonlands, you must camp in designated camp sites - which requires a reservation.

Check out the Canyonlands NPS site and the one for Arches. There's a lot of information in there about how to be out in the desert without damaging the environment: https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm

TL;DR: Stay on designated trails or stay the hell home. Pack out what you pack in. Don't try to bury your poop (it's the desert, that stuff doesn't degrade like in a forest). Don't damage plants or the cryptobiotic soil crust.

You will see people break all these rules, we call these people asshats and their behavior is what gets areas closed down.

 

[NC_Overland]

Updated the original post, but does anyone have an opinion on going in the fall vs the spring? We always went out west in the spring due to school schedules for my friends, but I am not locked into April this time. It may also work out better financially as we are trying to cross a few other important things off in the first half of the year.

What is the best time to go in the fall? Any other thoughts on the matter?

It depends on where you’re going. In CO, a lot of trails aren’t passable or even open till summer. Some as late as mid/late July.

 

[ChrisNLA]

It depends on where you’re going. In CO, a lot of trails aren’t passable or even open till summer. Some as late as mid/late July.

Going to Moab and the immediately surrounding area. The highest altitude will be around La Sal. Colorado isnt on the list this time other than driving though the corner of it.

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